Jobs help for refugees too fragmented, says SER advisory group

Refugees continue to have difficulty in finding a job in the Netherlands because the help they are given is fragmented and small scale, according to government advisory body SER.

SER, comprised of union and employer representatives plus lay members, is the most important government advisory group in terms of economic policy.

‘Without extra effort there is a real risk that thousands of newcomers will lose their link to Dutch society,’ SER chairwoman Mariette Hamer is quoted as saying by broadcaster NOS.

A large number of initiatives blossomed after the surge in refugee numbers last year but too few refugees have benefited, SER said.

For example, local councils are not sharing their best practices and working together. Nor do they know enough about the capacities of ‘their’ refugees so they are not in the right position to help them.

‘The last large group of refugees ended up on welfare benefits and can’t get out,’ Hamer said. ‘So we would now urge speedy action to make sure these people can get to work.’